By Kim McDarison
Bill Smith, chief inspector at the downtown armory — one of two polling places receiving city of Whitewater voters Tuesday — said some 1,200 voters had visited the armory by around 1:45 p.m.
A second polling place was open on the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater campus in the Hamilton Room in the University Center. City Clerk Michele Smith, who also is Bill’s wife, was on site at that location, Bill said.
At the armory, Bill, who has served as a poll worker in Whitewater for 20 years and as a chief inspector for 12, described the traffic as “good,” and producing a steady flow throughout the day.
All of the poll workers manning tables and receiving voters by wards were busy, he said, adding that even poll workers at the registration tables were busy.
Speaking with Bill Smith by phone, Michele Smith said some 1,200 absentee ballots were requested and by Tuesday afternoon, about 1,100 had been returned.
“Some are still out there, but the majority have been returned,” Bill said.
Describing the mood of the voters, Bill said: “All of them seem like they want to make a difference, no matter what their preference. Some elections seem like a social event. Not this time. People are very purpose-driven.”
During the August primary, Michele Smith said the city had about 6,000 registered voters.
During the primary, some 750 absentee ballots were issued, with the clerk describing that number as larger than the average number of ballots requested by voters before COVID-19.
Photos taken at the city’s downtown polling location follow.
Operating from a table in the vestibule of the downtown armory, greeters Pam Cronce, seated, at left, and Whitewater Common Council member Carol McCormick direct UW-Whitewater Student Colin Vorreyer to his polling place, which, in his case, was at the city’s other polling location on campus.
Poll workers Lynn Binnie, from left, Patti Rohrs, standing, Valerie Cole, Sharon Knight, and David Medici receive voters living within the city’s wards 1 and 2.
Poll worker Dorothy Spurgat is ready to assist voters from within the city’s wards 6-8.
Nate Schulte fills out his voter’s registration form.
Poll workers Roger Cole, from left, and Sandra Hass, watch the voting machine to make sure ballots are inserted correctly and counted.
Cynthia Abernethy is among poll workers manning the voter registration table.
Poll worker David Medici assists a voter.
Residents begin the voting process by arriving at the greeters table in the vestibule of the downtown armory.
Poll workers Olivia Pratt, at left, and Alaina Smith receive voters and issue ballots at a table serving city of Whitewater Wards 11 and 12, both of which are in the Jefferson County portion of the city.
Chief Inspector Bill Smith oversees the election process Tuesday afternoon at the downtown armory in Whitewater.
Kim McDarison photos.
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